Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season is upon us and the injury bug continues to bite some key players in the league. The Denver Broncos and the New Orleans Saints are both dealing with significant injuries as they prepare to face off in a highly anticipated “Thursday Night Football” matchup with coach Sean Payton returning to the Caesars Superdome.
The Broncos will be without their star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who is sidelined with a concussion after suffering a head injury in their Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. This is a major setback for Denver’s defense, as Surtain II is a key playmaker on that side of the ball.
Meanwhile, the Saints are also dealing with their fair share of injuries on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are both out for the game, with Olave dealing with a concussion and Shaheed undergoing knee surgery that will keep him sidelined for an extended period. Coach Dennis Allen mentioned that Shaheed could even be placed on injured reserve.
In more positive news, a couple of star players returned to practice fully on Wednesday. Davante Adams, the newly acquired wide receiver for the Jets, was back on the field after dealing with a hamstring issue. Nick Chubb, the dynamic running back for the Cleveland Browns, also returned to practice after nursing a knee injury.
As we look across the league, there are a few other notable injuries to keep an eye on. The Patriots are mostly healthy, except for running back Rhamondre Stevenson who sat out of practice with a foot injury. The Jaguars, who are gearing up for their second consecutive game in London, have no major injury concerns with everyone on the team practicing in some capacity.
In Thursday night’s matchup, the Seahawks will be without cornerback Riq Woolen who missed practice with an ankle injury. Defensive tackles Byron Murphy II and Leonard Williams were limited in practice due to hamstring and knee issues, respectively. The Falcons saw safety Justin Simmons sit out of practice with a hamstring injury, while running back Bijan Robinson was limited with a rest day.
Injuries are unfortunately a part of the game in the NFL, and teams will have to adjust and adapt to make the best of their situations as they continue to battle throughout the season. Stay tuned for further updates on these injuries as the week progresses.
